Means for elevating fluids



v 4 Shee-ts-heet 1 Dec. 22, 1931.

c. laA l|=Er`1 ETor\| MEANS FOR ELEVATING FLUIDS Filed Oct. 50, 1929 Dec. 22, 1931'. c. B. PENDLETON MEANS FOR ELEVATING FLUIDS Filed OCt. 30, 1929 4 sheets-sheet `2 Dec. 22, 1931. QB. PENDLETON MEANS FOR ELEVATING FLUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed OC. 50, 1929 Dec. 22, 1931. c. BfPr-:NDLETON MEANS -FOR ELEVATING FLUIDS Filed Oct. 501929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MFM@ 22?"931 41.831,6'69..

Application naaro=t nw1r..zo, 1929.4 sealan. 403,429.

' This invention relates to meansv for elevat-r the. use of artificially controlled devices at ing fluids. lMore particularly, the devicey is the surface ofl the well to the end that a ,conadaptable for increasing the production of tinuous production of the fluid is assured and i oill from an. oil well.V rlhe 4.device contemloss of producing tinieiseliminated.l r5 plates the provisionjof a iluidpressure'disv,Another object of the invention the' 55 .placement pump which is adaptable for use. provision of a methodand'means for increas- V in deep Wells, wells with low. fluid level, and, ing the production Aof the Huid-in a well by "l where water is being produced inassociation decreased elevating costs', inthat group well with the oil. s spulnping. 1s permitted, 'thereby eliminating i0- This invention isnot to be `confuse/d with endless trouble andexpense incidental to the 60 that method of lifting a fluid, known'as the sucker rod method of pumping. l l gas lift-,forthereason that the 1ordinary gas Briefly stated, the method yndv Vmeansvv lift isrestricted in its application, and more about -to be `deseribedutilizes a fluid valve often than not, causes an emuls'ifying action andv a gas valve so 'coupled that when thev .15 nd is only capable of assisting in the lifting luidvalve is elevated, the gas valve is closed, 6o.

f a Huid a determined `distan'c'e. The ordiand vice versa., with the result that when iuid naryl gas lifthas many disadvantages in addienters the well tubingand finally reaches its y tion to the disadvantages just' mentioned, static level, the vfluid valve closes automatifsuch as retarding the production of the well callyj' under the ele'cts `of gravity and gas 20 by a back pressure cin-the fluid or upon the'l pressure, the gas valve then .opening and 70 oil sands. g l y allowing as to force .the fluid from .the

Thepresent invention provides a simple tubing. T e' gas thereafter expands and in i 'method as well'as 'a means `whereby all theso doing, the pressure is reduced so that the disadvantages of the gas lift Vmethod hereto` fluid willagain enter through 'the fluid 25 fore mentioned are effectively overcomein an nvalve and` this actionv will, prior to its pas- 'I5' inexpensive .manner and in such amann'er sa ejthrough the fluid valve, close the' gas that the said meansl is directly controlledby va ve, and the cycle of operationis again reth uid entering the well and ina natural' peated, Due 4to the fact thatthe gas `only nner rather Athan in anartilicialmanner. comes in-eontact with thebottm of the coll l The'invention includes among its yseveral umn 'of fluid, an aerated column is not pio- 80l objects the provision of a method and mdans 1 duced. Therefore, the Huid is` elevated fromy .whereby gas pressures on'the fluid inthe well vthe well inits naturall state or as.` it flows are effectively eliminated with` resultingly ii-I into the well, thuseliininating many of the creased production. i problems encountered in producing fluid Another-Objectis theprovision of a means .from Wet wells. and method of the character indicated, where w A. gas anchor can be usedwith this method f 'by the gas to oil ratio in a well is lowered by of pumping and by having itl of a ,suitablel reducing the volume of circulated gas. length to meet the conditions of the well, the- Another object isthe provision of a device production can be made from a low enough cer,

49 of the character stated .which does not' prodepth in thefiuid to insureholding back the 90 duce an z'ierated column'in the fluid, hence formationfgas, thereby proloning the `life eliminating bad emulsions. j of the .well andv giving '.a hg er ultimate f Another object isthe provision ofa device yleld. v i

in which any gas within the well formation is During the past few years, there have been .I

45. conserved,- and utilized to give an increased developed wells of great depths. Wherrthe .95

ultimate yield. Hush productionhas been deliveredfrom Another-Objectis the provision of'means these wells and the` gas pressure declines,

adapted to give a steady production flow of serious problems face the operators. .The

, the fluid in that the Sentry into the fluid straight gasv lift` cannot befused at eat 50 tub/ing is automatica y controlled AWithout depths for the pressure that it would ta e to 1,00

' -wouldlstand up under such a strain and, fur thermore, "wells of great depth are o'ten crooked so that the rods would cut out the 1 bers'and features, as wellas the method of Well as it does in a well of depth. 15

, cation proceeds, and With the object ofprothe invention consists in the no vel and useful `more particularly pointed out in they claims.

the invention,

' line 7--7 of Figu provide what may be termed as a fluid pressure displacement pump'which, in a measure `is controlled both by Huid flowing into the lift the oil wouldalso put back ressure on the sands and prevent the fluid rom entering the well. A sucker rod pump is out of the question at great de ths for the lifting load would be sogreatt at it would be impractical to attempt to develop a rod that from the surface of the well. j

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 1 indicates in the earth formation. Within this "well bore is a casing 3 forming one element of tubing in a short time. The present inven` the pressure line e. This casing .extends tion, however, solves the deep well pumping problem, in that the method and means to be cent the bottom of the well hole. A ca'sing described works as eiiiciently in a shallow or tubing head is provided at4 and'suitable `Other objects will be set forth as the speci- 5 this head and have communication with the interior of the said casing. Within thev said casing is the pump tubing d and this tubing also connects with the tubing or casing head and-'avalved controlled line 7 is in direct communication therewith. The fluid presviding a method and means for pumping iuid's which is simple, of construction, -efficient in operation, and generally superior,

provision, formation, construction, associa tion and relative arrangement of parts memwith relation to the oil sands and the oil that using the same, all of which means are shown in the several embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally and depth such that the static pressure head'of the oil` which would normally be above the Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of an oil well incorporating the invention,

Figure 2 isan enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of 'a portion of the invention v v Figure 3 is a rview similar to Figure 2, certain parts thereof being in changed relation,

line. This condition is illustrated in Figure 1, t-he level of the oil being at 8. However, as will hereinafter appear, oil will not may not be necessary to use the packer. The

Figure 4 is an elevation of a portion offdisplacement chamber member c includes a substantially annular casing 9 provided with end couplings 10 and 11',fthe coupling 10 being of the reducer type andbeing in screwthreaded engagement with the end of the pump ltubing d, as shown at 12. Theportion of'largest dlameter of ,the coupling is internallyscrew-threaded for screw-threaded engagement with the casing 9, as shown at 13,

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the' line 5-'5 of Figure 4, Y

Figurey 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 6-6of Figure 3, Figure 7 is a cross sectional view on 'the re 3, Figure 8 is a ,vertical sectional 'elevation ,of a slightly modified form of the invention,

AFi ure 9 is an elevation partly in section of a ength of casing incorporating a packer,

4Figure 1() is a continuation ofF1gure9 and externallyv screw-threaded at 15, whereby a showing a portion of the invention, and, perforated screen-16 may be secured thereto. Figure 11 is a vertical sectional elevation' The coupling 10 is provided with a central of a double pipe installation where the casinternal gas inlet line 17 having branches 18 ing will not permit a packer to be run.

AReferring to the drawings, the form of the invention depicted in Figures 1 to`7, inclusive, is designated as anentirely by A, and thesame includes a liquid inlet valve a, a gas inlet valve b, a displacement chamber member c within which are the members a and b, pump tubing d through which liquid' is elevated, and a pressure line member Q, as well as sundry pressure and liquid control means .f at the surface of the well, all of which elements maybe utilized in practicing an embodiment of the invention.

i The elements a, b and c taken .Sas a group,

nally screw-threaded at 14 for engagement is externally screw-threaded and shouldered at 19 whereby the end of a screen 20 may be secured thereto, the upper' end of the screen being' bent vinwardly at 21 for close engagement with the periphery of the to'be secured to the line 17. S'Ilhe gas lnlet valveb includes `a valve housing 22formed with "interrupted central bores 23, 23a. These bores actas seat portions for a piston valve 24. The piston valve includes a cylindrical member formed with a central bore 25 well hole and gas pressure directed thereto the, surface of the well and 2 the well bore Y downwardly wit-hin the formation and adjal sureV displacement pump is usually so placed rise around thepump after a kick 'over/ due to the presence :of a paclgerbel-ow said pump, although in certain installations, it Y.

and the reducer coupling- 11 is likewise inter-l communicating exteriorly of the said cou pling, Furthermore, the said coupling 10 Avalved controlled lines 5 and 6 connect with would ordinarily rise vwithin the casing 3 that the same is submerged, preferably tol a pump is substantially equal to the gas pres-` sure which would be directed upon the gas -with the opposite end of said casing 9 and tubing d. The gas pressure valve is adapted .adapted to receivetherein a member 26,

which member is provided with a central bore 27 and with a transverse bore 28 in communication the central bore. LA pair of branchl ducts 29 in the member 24 commuv nicate with the central bore 27 and with the base of the valve l24. It will be noted that the transverse 4bore 28 is positioned above an end of the member 24. The housing 22 is provided with/one or Inolgeenlargements4 These enlargements take the form 0f cages in that the same are formed with slots 31 and` adapted to confine ball valves 32, which balll valves control communication between the ed for` engagement with the threads 35 of the housing 22, and this said head is 'pro` ing 3.

The form Figure 8 isdesignated as an entirety by B, the operation of this form of the invention being the same'as the form A, and inasmuch wardly between said coupling and the casof the inventionill'u'strated in as many of theelements are the same, like l' references will be applied'wherever possible. The chief difference in construction between the forms A and B resides in the-'gas .inlet valve g and the'construction, of .the cage of theliquid inlet valve L for the form B; other# wisevthe elements are the same. The gas inlet valve includes a valve casing formed on the head of the cage .51 of the liquid inlet valve h. The upper end of the caslng isQb ternally screw-threaded at 52 for cooperation with the screw-threads 34 of the inlet line 17.

4Slidable within the bore 53 of thecasing is a piston valve including a cylindrical element 5.4 formed with a` central bore at 55 and provided with one or more ducts 56 communicating with said central bore. A plug 57 has screw-threaded engagement with the upper end of the member 5,4 and said plug is provided with a central bore 58 and likewise withv vided with a centralbore 38. The cage 36 is atip 5 9 providedlwith a transverse bore 60 adapted to have 'screw-threaded thereto an communicating with the bor-e 58. The tipped annular valve seat member 39. IAdapted for portion of the plug is adapted to extend bereciprocal movement relative to the seat and youd the upper limitsfk of the member 53.4 the cage is a valve 40and which valve is di- Adapted to be confined lin 'the bore 55 berectly connected to a stem 441,/,which stemgineath the plug 57 is fibrous material, 'such as Aforms an extension of the valve 24, the said steel wool, 61. This member "54 is yformed stem being passed through the central bore with av stem 62, which has direct ,connection 38' of l the head 37. rlhis valve 40 is formed ,withl the valve 40. The casing 50 is formed with a conical shaped head 42 and with an with an annular'external ange 53, and the v f annular shoulder portion 43.l To limitup- .casing is provided with one or more transward movement of the valvein one direction, verse ports 64 located immediately below the thecage is shouldered at 44, so as to be in a fsaid flange. The annular member 65 is pro;

position tostrike the annular lange mem` vided with an annular shoulder 66, and this 105 ber '43,- and movement downwardly of the member is adapted to surround the peripheryv valve is stopped by the said flange striking of `that portion of the'casing '50;above the the top of the seat 39. f The casing/9 is inflange 63 andto have the shoulder Fportion ternallyfthreaded at y4,5 and in screw-thread- 66 thereof restin upon sa1d flange\..`w' Iii-then ed engagement with said threadsin an anm0l'e, th.1s inem' er 1spro v1ded-w1th ,an antion of4 which is adaptedy to bearagainst the" Penlhery '3f the c asmg and Palllcularly that? .end of the cage 36 andi the -annular seat 'mem- PQrtlOn 0f the @Slug 111 the 2,0113 0f the PCIS bef 397 and act as ,3, Supporting m/ember 64. Thls construct-10u provldes an annular therefor. The nut y46 is provided with one 'space 3 68 betwen the l"f1'1 lher5 7 0i- One P01" 115 tlon ofthe caslng and the lnterior surface of packer 49'. ThisJ packer is illustrative' only as a packeroftheltype shown at 125 in Figure 9 would probablyjbeused. `.This packer spans the gap betweent-he casing v3- and the said screen. Thus, fluid under ordinarycir- I' cum'stances isv forced to" enter .through thescreen and within the end of the coupling 11 rather than by being permitted to ,pass u p-v the skirting, which annular space is in direct v communication with the ports'64.- Itwill be noted that the member 'shoulders against an end' ofthe member 17 when' the saidme'mber 65 ysurrounds in part the casing l50.

Referring to 'Figures 9 and 1Q, I have shown' one, form o f installation of theimproved punp wherein apacker is-'placed above the perforated .cas1ng`126 and between the casings127 and 128. hispacker. is of conventional form and adaptedvto seal-off the spacelso. that oil'or other fluid cannot escape past thejpacker. The casing 1281corresponds to thejeasing 3 `asfshown in Figures l. and 2, 130

and within the said casing is the pump tubin'g d. A screen 129 is coupled to the casing 128 and the screen in turn may be/directly coupled to another casing which is connected to a reducer collar 130. This reducer collar connects with a further length of tubing 131 corresponding to the pump tubing d. packer or seal-off ring 132'is interposed between the screen and the tubing d. A collar 133 may be secured to the upper end of the tubing dfand bear upon suitable packing` 134, resting upon the ring 132. Thus, the weight of the tubing is maintained by'the collar resting upon the packing and the ring 132. As shown, the casing 128 is secured to the threads 19 of the member 10 of the pump.

I '.It will be seen that any oil or other fluid 'enteringthe perforations of the screen 126 will have to move downwardly in order toI pass through the-screen 16 and up the pump tubing d and that the gas under -pressure at the surface of the well is passed downwardly between the casings 127 and 1,28, through the screen 129, into the space included between the pump tubing Z and the casing y128, and thence into the branches 18 of the gas inlet v line 17.

136 andthe tubing d and through the screen The operation, uses and ladvantages of the invention just described are as follows:

y Taking the form of the invention designated as an entirety by A and assuming that it is'to be placed within a well, thel pump along with the tubing is lowered within the l lwell casing to the desired depth. A packer is, of course, included and lowered with the pump.` If oil is standing in the well casing, it is evident that this oil will completely Aimmerse the pump and surround the pump tubing substantially as shown in Figure 1 at 8,"the surface 8v indicating the height to which the oil has risen inthe casing, or its socalled-static level. It now becomes essential to pack-off, a Zone beneath the pump and the packer is then brought into action for this purpose. Roughly, as before stated, the member 49. illustrates the packer, although he form shown in" Figure 9 at 125 would p obably be lused for this purpose. It is essential for the type of the invention shown in Figure 1 to remove the oil from the space included between the pump tub- 4ing d and the casing 3.- In order todo this, `the well may be swabbed, or if excessive gas yball valves of the pressure is not necessary, the fluid between the tube d and the casing 34 may be forced downwardly through the screen 20l into the branches 18, line 17, opening the ball check valves and upwardly through the pipe d. This is conveniently done by opening the A valve 5, clos-ing the valves 6, 100 and 102,

and opening the valves' 7 and 101. The valve 5 communicates with the source of gas pressure. The valve a would,A of course, be closed and the gas pressure valve b would be open or, in other words, the valve members of the pump would be in theposition illustrated in Figures 3 and 8.* The lform of the invention illustrated. in Figure 8 overcomes certain disadvantages of the form A in that gas under pressure: will raise the fluid ,column between the A(-:asings without, the necessity of swabbing which, as has 'been stated, might be necessary for the form A.

It will be noted that the form B does not use the ball check4 valves and the annular space acts in a measure asJ a gas pocket to prevent eXtrance of. liquids therein. Furthermore, there is little liability of impairing the functiony of the valve elements through the presence offsand and other dbris in this latter form, although it is evident that sand mi ht rapidly cut away. the

orm A.

It is assumed that the'form B is lowered within the well casing and immersed in the oilor other fluid@ yThis oil or other vfluid will surround thepump in accordance with the showing of Figure'y 1. However, instead of attempting to force the fluid, s'uch `as indicated in Figure 1,' back down through the branches 18/and assuming the same valve arrangement as shown in Figure 1, I may close the valve 5 leading to the gas pressure line and open the valve 6, leading to the oil sump.

A ley-pass 200 communicates with gas pres- I sure line 201, and valve 5, and this `particular line contains a valve communi, cating with the fitting that connects' with the tubing d. The valves 5,101 and 102 are closed and the valves 7 and 100are opened.

downwardly through the tube cl into the annular space 68 through the branches 18 and out through the screen to lift the oil or other Huid between the tube d and casing 3 into the casing head 4, and past valve 6 to the oil sump. After the oil has been lifted from the casing, the flow of the gas under pressure is reversed by closing the valve. 100 and opening the valve fsof that the gas ilow path is between the casing 3 and the vtubing d and through the branches 18; the oil in the Well by this time being-forced to enter the screen 16 to get past the valve 40. This isl ordinarily termed a kick overv7 and aids in starting operation of the well. understood that suitable valves must be manipulated to permitthe oil to pass upward- It is, of course,

Hence, gas under pressure will be directed ly through the tube d, such as by closing the valve 6 andopening the valves 7, 101 and 102. It is intended that the gas should be, separated from the oil after. the oil is lifted."

It will be evident that in the formjB, the. flowpath of the gas under pressure as well as the oil or other fluid tobe lifted maybe directed in any path desired either through th?) tube d or between the ycasing and the said tu e. 1

Assume the parts of the valves a and b in the position shown in Figure 3, and'that the pump as an entirety has beenl laced within the well hole in suchv position t at the oil or 4other fluid has a tendency to enter throu h the screen 16. Gas under pressuremay e allowed to iow downwardly between the casing 3 and tubing d through screen 20 and into i the line 17. This gas will then raise the ball walves 32 so that the said gas escapes through the p orts31 and upwardly throu h the tubing d for the form A, and for t e form B through the ports 64 and intol the tubingd. If the condition just stated occurs, obviously pressure against the fluid valve 40 would be relieved and the oil or other fluid under presv sure will enter the screen 16, pass upwardly and lift the valve 40 to the position shownin sure upon the gas valve to open it. Likewise,l

` gravity will affect the Huid valve and aid gas valve opens, gas under pressure will lift in seatngthe said valve. The moment the the column of luid'in the tubing. When the column offluid reaches the surfacerof the well, itis directed through the valve 7 and valved lines 100, 101 and 102.. Dueto lightening of the load, the gas starts to expand,

whereupon the valve 40 will commence'fto open, and prior to a complete opening thereof to admit further oil or other -fluid,.will close the gas valve and the .displacement of the column of fluid is completed by the expansion of the vlgas plus the pressure of the incoming fluid. These displacements are continued with definite regularity as `long as the fluid enters'the well. Y Owing to the fact'that the gas only comes in contact with the bottomA of the column of fluid, an aerated columnis not produced. VA verydistinct advantage of this methd of lifting @i1 is thtI fact that this pump is controlled by the :Huid in the well which is a natural control and not' some artificial means on thesurface.

i5 f Referring toFigurer2,lgas vunder pressure ymay' be passed through the ports 27 and 29.

and into the space included between the. end of the valve 25the head 37 and the bore 23a.

This construction is important for several i reasons, one being that when the valve 25 is in the position shQwn in-Figure 3, it is' essential that no vacuum be produced back of the valve; otherwise, it would not lift readily, and likewise to provide a means for escapage of gas when the valve is moved fromthe position of Figure 2 to that of Figure 3. How- .ever, there is a difference in effective pressure areas between the head of the valve and that portion confined between the head 37 and the said` valve, due to the-'cross sectional area of the stem 41. Hence, theeffecti've pressure area upon which the inlet gas acts in tendn to move the valve 25 from the-,position o Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3 is'equal .to the difference in areas between the yhead ofthe valve and the area of the foot less the area occupiedfby the stem 41. It isintended that the effective pressure area on'thehead of the valve 25 should be ysuchJthat the entire yvalve assemblage is positively actuated to close the oil inlet valve and open the gas inlet valve, prior to the oil being elevated reachingits static level.

Actual results in the field have shown that the invention is highly efficient in operation. Pumps of the character described which have been installed and in' operation over a period of months in certain experimental wells are operating withqdefinite "regularity and the wells are producingy from 75% to 100% more fluid than .they were before the installations .were'mader The` invention is susceptible to groupwell`pumping in that each well is taken care of automatically. reaches a cert/ain height in the well, the pump lifts it out and automatically ceases tooperate until the head is restored. These displace-y ments'will continue regularly as long as fluid comes into the well, the number per hourvdepending upon the depth of the well and quany tity 'of uid.

It is -quite apparent that this invention is not of necesslty confined to the lifting of oil in a well as it will work equally satisfactorily with other fluids, such as water.

While I have not shown the actual means When the -iuid lilo `for separating the gas from the oil after the oilhas been lifted, or for that matter. the plant that supplies the' gas under pressure, or passage .within the well, yet it-is evident that'thisi's all a matterfof common expedi ency utilizing'well known`devices now on themarket...' vIt isevident` that the member 26 vplaced within .the bore 25-of the piston valve may be; shortened and fibrous material placed Within said bore and beneath said' member 26, for the purpose of vcollecting' any dbris that might be passed through the port openr i' I ings 27 and 28 and t prevent such substancesI from being received between the head 27 and an end of the said pistony valve.

It is obvious thatvarious changes and modifications and variations may be made in prac- Vticing the invention in departure from the particular showing of the drawings without departing from the`true spirit thereof. I claim: j

1. In a fluid pressure displacement pump, a displacement chamber member provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a gas ressure conduit and a gas pressure valve Joined to said conduit and controlling entrance of gas under pressure within the dis- .15' placement chamber member; `said gas pressure valve including a housing formed with a transverse port, a cylindrical valve member reciprocable within said'housing to open and close said port, open at one end and a v skirting member adapted to spacedly-V surround said gas pressure valve housing in the-l zone of said transverse port.

2. In aiuid pressure displacement pump, a displacement chamber member provided with a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a liquid controlled valve for said inlet, a gas pressure conduit and a gas pressure valve joined to said conduit and controlling entrance of gas under pressure within the displacement 30. chambermember, said gas pressure valve being directly connected to the liquid control valvel that the former is actuated by the latl ter to close the former when the latter is -open and vice versa;vsaid gas pressure valve including a housing formed with a trans'- verseport, av lcylindrical valve member re- ,cipreable within said housing to open and close said port, and a skirting memberjopen atoney end adapted to spacedly surround said 40 gaspressure valve housing .in the zone of said transverse port. v l

Inf-testimony whereof, I have signed my name. to this specification at Los Angeles,

55 California this, 18th day of October, 1929.

HARLES "B. PENDL'ETON 

